Man charged with murder and arson

An arrest has been made in connection to the fatal fire in Nunam Iqua that claimed three lives last month.

A Bethel Grand Jury indicted 19-year old Derek Adams of Nunam Iqua on 17 counts relating to the fatal fire that claimed three lives. The fire happened on June 28th.

Adams is charged with six counts of Murder in the 2nd Degree, one count of Arson in the First Degree, and ten counts of Assault in the third degree.

Troopers have not said how the fire was started but say it was near the door. There were 14 people in the home at the time of the fire. Most tried to escape out a back window.

The home of the Ignatius family burned to the ground . The three people who died include: 8-year-old Cyprian Ignatius, 25-year-old Edward Murphy, and 43-year-old Joseph Ignatius. Two other people were medevac’d to Anchorage for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

Adams is currently held at the State jail here in Bethel on $500-thousand dollar bail. Troopers say the grand Jury indictment came at the end of an extensive investigation by them and the State Fire Marshall’s office. ###